Stringed musical instrument



W. l. KIRK. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1919.

1,437,379. Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER I. KIRK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LYON 8: HEALY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed June 6, 1919.

To all 112 mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Vamnn I. KIRK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawinns, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to stringed musical instruments, more particularly to banjos.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a practical, inexpensive and advan- 5 tageous construction of stringed musical instrument, such as a banjo.

Another object. of the invention is to provide an advantageous and improved arrangement for holding the resounding diaphragm of a banjo or like instrument in position.

Another object of the invention is to avoid in such holding mechanism the presence of" projections objectionably projecting from the instrument.

Other objects of the invention are to accomplish the foregoing and other desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 a

plan view of a banjo embodying my present invention Fig. 2 is an elevation of a portion of the body of the banjo;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings I show a banjo having a rim A, preferably made of lamb nated wood. This is provided with up wardly extending standards 1. upon which is mounted a. ring 2, preferably made of steel. The resounding diaphragm 3 is stretched acrossthis ring 2 and provided with.

an annular flesh hoop 4. An annular top hand or strainer hoop or rim 5, preferably made of brass, surrounds the ring, 2 and rests upon the flesh hoop 4 so as to hold the diaphragm 3 in proper position and under proper tension. A series of hook members 7 are arranged in annular order around the outer side of the rim A and are engaged by brackets 8 which are secured to said rim A. The hook members 7 have their upper ends bent to form engaging portions or hooks 9,.

Serial No. 302,193.

and these enter apertures 10 in said band or rim 5. The other ends of the hook members 7 are screw threaded as at 11 and these threaded portions project below the apertures 8 and are engaged by nuts 12. These latter are preferably hexagonal, with the hexagon portion 13 preferably midway between the ends of the nuts, so as to facilitate engagement. The brackets 8 are secured to the rim A, preferably by means of studs or bolts 14 which pass through said rim A and have their screw threaded ends provided. with nuts 15, with washers 16 preferably interposed between said nuts. 15 and said rim A.

In this way the band or rim 5 is held in place by the hook members 7, and has its tension adjusted by adjusting the nuts 12 on the members 7. The hook portions 9 being located in apertures 10, the members 7 are shorter than if their ends extended over the top of said band 5, and consequently material and expense are saved. Furthermore, the engagement of the hooks is more secure because their ends are in apertures and are held against sidewise movement. Furthermore. said ends do not 7 project above the band to form objectionable projections which would be in the way and might be accidentally displaced or rubbed to one side. The ends 9 are preferably inclined as shown in Fig. so that they enpage the rim 5 in a very effective manner. and will not be easily displaced or loosened,- the apertures 10 being correspondingly inclined. The broad standards 1 form a substantial base or support for the ring 2, and permit a. certain amount of adjustment or play on the part of the ring 2. Atthe same time. the ring 2 and diaphragm 3 are held against any substantial movement by the posts 1, which are so wide that they practically engage the rings 4 and 5, the thickness of the diaphragm 3 only being interposed between said members and the posts 1.

The members 14 by being permanently secured to the brackets 8, as by being made in tcgral therewith. make the connection of brackets 8 and rim A simple and easy; the members 14- being simply passed through the rim A. and the nuts 15 screwed thereon.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without depart ing from the spirit of the invention.

W'hat I claim is;

1. In a stringed instrument, the combination of an annular rim, a diaphragm extending across said rim, posts mounted at intervals along the top or" said rim, a ring mounted on the upper ends of said posts, and means for engaging the diaphragm and holding the same under tension, said hold ing means being arranged outside of said ring and said posts and substantially in contact With the latter.

2. In a stringed instrument, the combination of an annular rim, a diaphragm extending across said rim, posts mounted at intervals along the top of said rim, a ring mounted on the upper ends of said posts, and means for engaging the diaphragm and holding the same under tension, said holding means being arranged outside of said ring and said posts and substantially in contact with the latter, said holding means comprising a rim or band surrounding said ring and the upper ends of said posts and means for holding said rim or hand in position.

8. In a stringed instrument, the combination of an annular rim, a diaphragm eirtending across said rim, posts mounted at intervals along the top of said rim, a ring mounted on the upper ends of said posts, and means for engaging the diaphragm and holding the same under tension. said holding means being arranged outside of said ring and said posts and substantially in contact with the latter, said holding means comprising rim or band surrounding said ring and the upper ends of said posts and means for holding said rim or band in position, and said holding means being adjustable'to regulate the tension of said diaphragm.

a. In a stringed instrument, the combination of an annular rim, a diaphragm extending across said rim, posts mounted at intervals along the top of said rim, a ring mounted on the upper ends or said posts, and means for engaging the diaphragm and holding the same under tension, said holding means being arranged outside of said ring and said posts and sul'istantiallv in contact With the latter, said. holding means comprising a rim or band surrounding said ring and the upper ends of said posts and means for holding said rim or band position, said posts being of substantial Width so to form broad seats :toi. said ring and also extend close to said rim or band.

5. In a stringed instrument. the combination of an annular rim, a diaphragm eXtending across said rim, posts mounted on the rim at intervals from one another, a ring mounted. upon the upper ends or said posts, said diaphragm being extended over said ring and thence dowhwardl; alongside of said posts, a rim or band surrounding said ring and the downturned edgz e oi said diaphragm, a flesh ring secured to the lower edge of the downwardlyextending portion of the diaphragm, said flesh. ring being engaged by said rim or band to hold the diaphragm in position, said rim or band being provided at intervals with apertures formed its side, hoolr members arranged at intervals around said rim and having their ends providedwith hooks adapted to fit into said apertures, the lower ends of said hook members being screw threaded, brackets adapted to receive the lower threadedends of said hook members, adjustable nuts for engaging the ends of said hook members, bolts on studs secured to said brackets and extending crosswise through said annular rim and nuts on the inner ends of said studs or bolts.

In Witness whereof, l'hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of ii ay, A. D. 1919,

/VALTER l. KIRK, 

